When Jack Layton was accorded a state funeral in August of 2011, Dimitri Soudas, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s director of communications, said the criteria is as follows:

“The practice since Confederation has been for the Government of Canada to offer a state funeral to current and former governors general, current and former prime ministers and current members of cabinet. It is possible for the prime minister on behalf of the Government of Canada, to accord the honour of a state funeral to other eminent Canadians, should it be deemed appropriate.”

Given that the word eminent, meaning high in rank or distinguished, is a fairly broad term, it could technically apply to Stompin’ Tom.

Mike MacDonald is a news editor and writer at Postmedia. His writing also appears weekly in The Onion. When not working, Michael can be found playing crunchy grooves on his ukulele in his Toronto home... read more.View author's profile